Supporting Recovery After Hospitalization with Adult Day Care Services
- SEO Team
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Going through a medical event that requires surgery or a prolonged hospital stay is always challenging for the patient and their family. What comes next, however, is at least as difficult and as important for the patient's recovery. Transitioning home after a major medical event comes with many risks, including isolation or medical setbacks. The good news is that having a team of adult day care service providers to help with the post-hospital recovery can help minimize the risks and give the patient every chance to recover.
Understanding Post-Hospital Recovery Challenges
Moving on from the predictability and continuous support of a hospital can lead to mental and physical issues. Before outlining all the ways in which an adult day care center like St. Elizabeth can make a world of difference for post-hospital recovery, it helps to list all potential setbacks that adult patients face. These include:
Emotional discomfort: A hospital discharge also involves a complete change of environment. Even if the new environment is one that's familiar to the patient, such as their home, the stress that comes with the new limitations caused by the illness and the fear of a relapse can have serious effects on their mental well-being.
Difficulty in following necessary treatments: Hospital staff usually make sure that patients receive their recommended medications in the right dosages and at the appropriate times. Once they transition to home care, some information regarding prescriptions, dosages, and even potential side effects may be lost or misunderstood, leading to potential complications.
Adjacent physical issues: Regardless of the medical reason that caused a patient to be admitted into a hospital, being confined to a bed will often lead to other issues like muscle loss and reduced mobility. This is especially valid for senior citizens.
Cognitive challenges: Senior patients who are already suffering from cognitive issues, such as dementia, may experience worsened symptoms after being discharged, as they adapt to the change in environment.
Ineffective communication between hospital staff and caregivers: While the doctors and nurses who treated the patient will explain all necessary treatment and procedures to the home caregivers, miscommunications often occur. This can lead to improper post-hospital care and missed follow-ups.
Emotional stress for caregivers: Last but not least, taking care of a recovering patient can be an enormous burden on family members and other individuals tasked with this. Seeing a loved one in a difficult situation and spending time and energy to take care of them can be a huge challenge.
All these factors contribute to increasing the chances that a patient experiences post-hospital stay complications, especially after going through surgery. In fact, almost a third of seniors over 65 experience post-surgical complications, with 18% needing readmission within the first month. Getting help from an adult day center significantly lowers this risk, making life better for the patient but also for their loved ones.
How Adult Day Care Supports Recovery After Hospitalization
Adult day care helps maximize the chances for recovery, mainly by extending the care that the patient received in the hospital. This provides the patient with the freedom and ease of mind that comes with not being a hospital patient but keeps them on track for recovery by keeping them in a structured and supervised setting. Some specific ways in which St. Elizabeth Adult Day Care Center can help support patient recovery goals include:
Physical Rehabilitation in a Safe Environment
As we mentioned earlier, a hospital stay takes its toll on the entire body, especially after a certain age. One of our priorities is to create a mobility-friendly environment that encourages each patient to work on regaining their pre-hospitalization mobility, strength, and energy. There's no one-size-fits-all solution for this, as each patient has their own specific situation and physical condition.
Our specialists assess each patient individually and create personalized exercise and guided movement routines. They also monitor each day care center patient and track their progress to help them improve their condition. The main goal is usually to help each patient regain their independence and find ways of staying active without risking injury.
Social Engagement as a Recovery Tool
We're social animals, so interacting with others in a positive manner is often as important as physical rehabilitation. Social interactions with fellow patients and with the day care center's staff can help avoid the feelings of isolation and depression that elderly individuals often feel, especially after a hospital stay. We provide a wide variety of fun activities to make sure everyone finds something they're interested in. These include group games, themed events, arts and crafts classes, and music therapy.
Nutrition and Medication Management
Getting proper nutrition and following the recommended treatment are vital for a full recovery at any age. Our staff is supervised by licensed nurses (LPN/RN), so each patient gets the right medications at the appropriate times and in correct dosages. Our meals are prepared by experienced chefs, are low in sodium, and follow each patient's dietary restrictions and guidelines.
Easing Caregiver Burden During Recovery
Besides giving the patient the best chances for a full recovery, an adult day care center like St. Elizabeth also provides relief for family caregivers. Caring for a loved one in need isn't just mentally exhausting and financially challenging but also very difficult to do well. You're probably not a healthcare professional, so providing high-level care at home is nearly impossible, given that you have your own life and career to manage. Letting professionals help you is a win-win situation, as your loved one will get excellent care while removing some of your burden.
Making a Seamless Transition to St. Elizabeth Adult Day Care
Transitioning an elderly loved one after a hospital stay is much easier on all parties with the help of an adult day care center like St. Elizabeth. The patient will be getting high-quality treatment, while you'll be getting the peace of mind that comes with knowing they're well taken care of. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
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